Page 32 of Innocently Imprisoned By the Bratva

His breath catches as he takes in the delicate lace, and I can see the muscles in his jaw tense as he visibly struggles to maintain control. It's exhilarating to know that I have this power over him—the ability to make the formidable Lev Zolotov lose his composure.

"Anoushka insisted," I say softly, my voice teasing even as my heart races in my chest. "She said it would be good for my confidence."

"Is that so?" Lev murmurs, taking a step closer. His proximity is intoxicating, and I find myself swaying toward him, drawn in by the magnetic pull of his presence. "Well, she might be onto something."

"Lev," I breathe, feeling the warmth of his body so close to mine as if it's calling out to me. Our eyes lock, and the air between us crackles with an electric charge that sends my pulse racing.

"Tell me, Pippa," he whispers, his breath ghosting over my cheek as he leans in closer, "do you feel more confident now?"

My throat feels dry, but I manage to choke out a response. "I… I think so."

"Good," he says, his voice husky and laden with promise. "Because I want you to know how incredibly sexy you are."

The intensity of his words leaves me breathless, my body responding to the desire in his voice with an excruciating ache for more.

With that, he leaves a trail of kisses from my ear, down my cheek, to my lips. I moan as his lips graze my skin. I inch my body closer to his, wanting more, and bite his lower lip. He groans, and I reach for his shirt, ready to unbutton the top one, when he pulls away.

And just as quickly as the moment began, Lev pulls away, leaving me reeling from the sudden loss of contact.

“Lev,” I moan, trying to get him to touch me again.

“It’s been a long day. You must be tired,” he says.

With that, he leaves, shutting the door firmly behind him. I'm left standing there, the heat of his gaze still burning into me and the undeniable tension between us lingering in the air.

A lump forms in my throat.

How can he affect me like this and still keep me at arm's length? The uncertainty gnaws at me, making me question whether I'm misunderstanding the situation. Anoushka’s words come back to mind. He’s dated supermodels and actresses. He used to have a different woman on his arm every night.

Maybe… maybe he misses that. The beautiful, tall, thin girls. Maybe he’s just not that into me.

Yet, at the same time, Lev's words and actions echo in my mind, making me feel both desired and confused. How can he find me sexy yet continue to hold himself back?

Tears pool in my eyes as I reach a conclusion. Maybe he doesn’t give himself to me wholly because he thinks I’m sexy, but not sexy enough. Not like the girls he used to date.

Chapter 13 - Lev

Staring at the paper in my hands, I can't help but let out a low whistle. Pippa's business operations thesis is nothing short of impressive. The way she breaks down and explains the solutions to bottleneck issues in manufacturing is both innovative and practical. Who knew that beneath her innocent exterior was a mind this sharp, this cunning? I mean I’ve seen her in a classroom, but this is something else altogether.

"Damn, Pippa," I say, looking over at her with newfound admiration. "You've got one hell of a brain on you, don't you?"

Pippa gives me a small smile. "I've always enjoyed problem-solving, especially when it comes to improving efficiency. So, do you think this paper is good enough to submit?"

"Clearly," I reply, waving the thesis in front of her. "This is too good to waste on cleaning houses. Good enough to submit? It’s an A-plus, Sweetheart!"

"Thanks," she says, blushing under my gaze. Her cheeks turn a lovely shade of pink, making her look even more irresistible.

"Alright then," I declare, rolling up the paper and standing up. "Starting tomorrow, you won't be scrubbing floors anymore. You're coming with me to see my brother Boris."

"Wait, what?" Pippa stammers, eyes widening.

“I’m going to find you an internship at the office,” I say in a no-nonsense tone that leaves no room for argument. “Trust me. You’re going to out-earn what you make doing chores around here.”

“But… I know nothing about working in an office,” she says, looking around nervously.

“You wrote this, didn’t you?” I slide the paper over to her. “Trust me. There are a few people around the office who could learn a thing or two from you. Trust me, " I assure her, smirking as I lean against my chair. "With a mind like yours, you'll fit right in."

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